Spinning head for spinning tops



Aug. 14, 1921; 1,680,423

F. L. LINDSTROM SPINNING HEAD FOR SPINIING'TOPS Filed April 26, 1926INVENTOR. Hank Z. Zzn alslz'afiv BY imwv ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 14, 1928. i

* UNITED v STATES 1,680,423. PATENT 1 OFFICE.

FRANK ILLINDSTROM, OF BRIDGEP ORT, CONNECTICUT.

SPINNING HEAD FOR SPINNING TOPS.

Application .filed April 26, 1926. Serial No.'104,768.

This invention relates to improvements in spinning tops of the two piecetype, lncluding a top proper and a spinning head by means of which thetop is rotated, and the invention more particularly relates, tospinningheads for tops of this class.

A commercial form of spinning head of the type referred to is shown inmy prior to release the top from the spinning head and whereby theenergy of the Wound spring within the head, and at the time engaged withthe top, will be released in a way to rotate the top.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention resides and consistsin the construction and novel combination and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it beingunderstood that various changes in the form, proportlon, size and minordetails of construction within the scope of the claims may be resortedto without departure from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

' Similar characters of reference denote like or corresponding partsthroughout the sevoral figures of the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and upon which,

Fig. 1 shows a central vertical cross section through my improvedspinning head and top;

Fig. 2 is an elevational perspective view of my novel spinning headdetached from the top, and

Fig. 3 shows a cross sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

My improved spinning head is adapted to operate a popular form ofspinning top, which as commercially manufactured is formed hollow, fromsheet metal and includes a body portion 5, a pintle 6, a stem 7 that ispositioned centrally in the top of the body, in alignment with thepintle. The top body is further provided with an extension 8 upon itstop side that surrounds the pintleoand encloses a spring actuatedengaging pin 9 which isnormally retained in its uppermost position bymeans of a spring 10.

This extension is further provided in its top side with a series ofholes 11 for engagement bythe hooked end 12, of the winding springcarried within the spinning head. These features may obviously varysomewhat so far as the application of my invention is concerned sincethe latter applies more particularly to the spinning head which operatesthe spinning top referred to.

The particular type of spinning head shown in the drawing and heretoforereferred to and to which my invention is shown applied, comprises a'cylindrical metal drum 13 having its end portions closed except for acentral passage 14 tl'ierethrough, and a series of notches 15 in thebottom end portion of the head for engagement with the before-mentionedspring actuated pin 9. This ,pin serves to hold the top in engagementwith the head during and upon the completion of the winding of thespring when the two parts are assembled and the hooked end 12 of thespring is in engagement with one of the holes 11 of the top, the upperend of this spring 14 being secured to the spinning head at 15 wherebyit is held. The said spring 1 1 is arranged in alignment with theopening through the spinning head and is positioned against the innercylindrical wall 16 of said head so as to allow the stem of the top tobe positioned in the spring and head with its upper end projectingslightly above the top end.

The handle 17 which is preferably shaped like a pistol handle ispreferably formed of sheet metal, and its shank portion is 0011- nectedto the top of the head as at 18 so that the cylindrical hollow portionof said shank will be in alignment with the central portion of the topand adapted to receive the extended end of the stem when the head isattached. For the purpose of operating the stem longitudinally withrespect to the handle and spinning head, I provide a lever 19 that ispivotally mounted in a hole 20 of the shank and has its forward endportion 21 fiattened in disc-like shape and movablypositioned within acylindrical guideway 22 adjoining one side and longitudinally of theshank of said handle, there is provided an opening 23 between saidguideway and the hollow shank whereby the inner end portion of the levermay be moved up and down.

A spring 24 is positioned in the guideway beneath the end 21 of thehandle so as to normally hold the inner end of the handle up and theouter end down, thus leaving the handle or trigger in position to beoperated in the manner suggested in Fig. l for the disengagement of thetop and spinning head as in the act of spining the top.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a handle andtrigger attachment for commercial terms of spinning heads which can bereadily included in the manufacture of said heads and whereby the stemof the top may be depressed and disconnected from the spinning head bythe use of the trigger that operates directly upon the end of the stem.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. The combination in a spinning device for spinning tops, of a springactuating head for engagement with a top, a hollow handle secured tosaid head, a hole in one Wall of the handle and a slot in the oppositeWall, an operating lever arranged transversely in the handle and pivotedin the hole of the handle and operable in the slot, said operating leveradapted when a top is connected to the head to be moved to engage thestem of the top to move the latter and disengage it from the head.

2. The combination in a spinning device i 3. In combination with thespinning head for a top, adapted to receive the stem of a top, of ahollow handle secured to the upper side of said head in position toreceive the end of said stem, a hole in one Wall of the handle and aslot in the opposite \vall, an operating lever mounted transversely ofsaid handle and having its end portions projecting beyond opposite wallsthereof, one end portion of said lever forming a finger piece, a springengaging the other end portion to hold the lever disengaged from thestem, said operating lever adapted when moved against the action of thespring to engage the stem and disengage the spinning head from'the top.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairtield and State ofConnecticut this 24th day of April A. D. 1926.

FRANK L. LINDSTROM.

